A Kentucky lawmaker has proposed a bill restricting men from getting the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra unless they are married, visit a doctor twice, and have permission from their wives before they can be prescribed the drug.
In actuality, the Kentucky lawmaker, Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, filed the satirical bill to make a point.
Fed up with laws restricting a woman's right to choose, Marzian said she was proposing the law "to protect these men from themselves."
A Kentucky lawmaker wants men to pledge marital fidelity before getting ED drugs: https://t.co/OZ730HNBLK pic.twitter.com/7FaaSW2AzKAccording to the Courier-Journal, Marzian, a Louisville Democrat, is sponsoring House Bill 396 in an effort "to protect men's health and ensure they are completely informed about a drug with potentially dangerous side effects."ā WDRB News (@WDRBNews) February 13, 2016
The Kentucky lawmaker's bill stipulates that only married men would be able to obtain the drug and it would require "a man to make a sworn statement with his hand on a Bible that he will only use a prescription for a drug for erectile dysfunction when having sexual relations with his current spouse."
Marzian said her reasons for proposing the law is simple.
"This is about family values."
Expert trolling: Lawmaker's bill would make men get a note from their wives to get Viagra https://t.co/YCReJDhwdo pic.twitter.com/2MWEc4gmR6The bill came soon after Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin signed into law Senate Bill 4, the so-called "informed consent" bill, which requires women seeking an abortion to receive counseling 24 hours in advance of the procedure from a health professional.ā Raw Story (@RawStory) February 13, 2016
Gov. Matt Bevin signs new abortion bill at Capitol Rotunda. The signing of Bevi... https://t.co/UvdPwr0623 #politics pic.twitter.com/o2Mqp9ryj7Marzian is a staunch supporter of a woman's right to make her own choices without government interference, and said her bill is meant to protest meddling by the predominantly male General Assembly into women's health issues.ā Zesty Political News (@zesty_politics) February 12, 2016
"Do we really want a bunch or legislators interfering in private, personal, medical decisions?"Marzian concedes that it's unlikely her tongue-in-cheek bill will get very far, but wanted to prove her point.
The Kentucky lawmaker has other plans to file a bill which would require potential gun buyers to obtain counseling 24 hours in advance from victims of gun violence before the purchase.
"I'm just making sure the government is taking care of your safety."According to ThinkProgress.com, this is not the first bill introduced to make a point about women's issues.
#Kentucky lawmaker wants men to get a note from wife to buy Viagra https://t.co/nF8OHGrpEi pic.twitter.com/idt39ZR0UAIn 2012, Oklahoma state Sen. Constance Johnson (D) introduced spoof amendment to a bill that would have outlawed oral sex, anal sex, and masturbation.ā Digital Journal (@digitaljournal) February 14, 2016
Her "every sperm is sacred" amendment to the bill said that "personhood" began at conception.
"Any action in which a man ejaculates or otherwise deposits semen anywhere but in a woman's vagina shall be interpreted and construed as an action against an unborn child."
Mary Lou Marzian for president! https://t.co/xirjmSZ8xCMarzian does have her supporters on social media.ā Leslie Cavanaugh (@lcavanaugh922) February 13, 2016
Mary Lou Marzian, my hero. Her bill addresses informed consent for husbands to get viagra & permission from their wife. #askbevinaboutmyvagā Steph Horne (@StephHorne) February 13, 2016
@klo_74 #AskBevinAboutMyVag #maryloumarzian The perfect law for limp right-wing conservative politicians.ā HillbillyReport (@HillbillyReport) February 13, 2016
Mary Lou Marzian is a certified badass and the newest addition to my list of admirable women. Get it, girl.ā Tawny Aguayo (@TheTawnyAguayo) February 12, 2016
Hats off to Rep. Mary Lou Marzian. This is great. #Kentucky https://t.co/RflrW4XNrRWhat do you think of the Kentucky lawmaker's bill? Think her point will be taken?ā BWBugleBoyCO-B (@BenjaminGarnett) February 12, 2016
[Image via Twitter/ThinkProgress]